• Home
  • BUSINESS
  • Namibia’s trade deficit improves in March ‘22
Photo Unsplash/ frank-mckenna
Photo Unsplash/ frank-mckenna

Namibia’s trade deficit improves in March ‘22

Diamonds drive exports
Namibia's trade deficit improved in March 2022 to N$2.9 billion when compared to N$4.6 billion recorded in February 2022.
PHILLEPUS UUSIKU
In the past twelve months, except for April and November 2021, Namibia has been registering a trade deficit.

Namibia’s trade deficit improved in March 2022 to N$2.9 billion when compared to N$4.6 billion recorded in February 2022, according to the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) trade statistics.

For the period under review, export earnings stood at N$6 billion, a 3.4% decrease when compared to N$6.3 billion recorded in the preceding month.

In addition, imports amounting to N$8.9 billion were recorded, a 17.7% decrease when compared to N$10.8 billion registered in February 2022.

Diamonds was Namibia’s largest export commodity during March accounting for 25.0% of total exports mainly destined to Botswana, United Arab Emirates, Belgium and Hong Kong.

Diamonds were followed by fish in second position which accounted for 14.0% of total exports destined mostly to Spain, Zambia, South Africa and Mozambique.

Inorganic chemical elements ranked third on the list with a share of 8.0% destined mostly to Finland, Netherlands and Canada, NSA pointed out.

Non-monetary gold accounted for 8.0% of total exports of which was solely destined to South Africa. Finally, copper blisters which accounted for 7.2% of total export was mainly destined to the Netherlands, China and South Africa. The aforementioned top five export commodities jointly accounted for 62.2% of total exports, NSA said.

A total of N$2.4 billion, representing 40.0% share of total exports left the country by road. This transformed into an upsurge of 45.6% when compared to its February 2022 level of N$1.7 billion.

Additionally, a noticeable increase of 60.2% was noted when compared to its level of N$1.5 billion recorded in March 2021. Air and sea transportation accounted for 35.3% and 24.7% of total exports, respectively, NSA added.

Imports

South Africa remained Namibia’s largest source of imports with a share of 44.2% of the value of all goods received into the country during the month under review. Following in second place is China with a share of 6.2% of total imports, India came in the third-place accounting for 6.0% of Namibia’s total imports followed by Saudi Arabia and Brazil contributing 4.1% and 2.6%, respectively, NSA said.

The top five commodities imported into Namibia jointly accounted for 31.6% of total imports with Petroleum oils taking the lead with the largest share of 18.4%. Following in the second position is Civil engineering and contractors' equipment share of 3.8% of all commodities imported.

Diamonds were ranked third after contributing 3.4% to total imports while motor vehicles for the transport of goods and sugar, molasses and honey followed in the fourth and fifth position with contributions of 3.1% and 3.0%, respectively.

Transport by road continued being the most frequent mode of transport used for imports during the period under review. Imports by road reached to N$5.2 billion, representing 58.4% of all goods imported into the country. Sea transport came in the second position accounting for 34.5% of all goods imported into the country while 7.0% of goods arrived by air, NSA said.

Comments

Namibian Sun 2024-11-23

No comments have been left on this article

Please login to leave a comment

Katima Mulilo: 20° | 36° Rundu: 20° | 37° Eenhana: 22° | 36° Oshakati: 25° | 35° Ruacana: 22° | 36° Tsumeb: 23° | 36° Otjiwarongo: 22° | 35° Omaruru: 23° | 36° Windhoek: 23° | 34° Gobabis: 23° | 35° Henties Bay: 14° | 19° Swakopmund: 14° | 16° Walvis Bay: 13° | 20° Rehoboth: 23° | 35° Mariental: 24° | 38° Keetmanshoop: 24° | 39° Aranos: 28° | 38° Lüderitz: 13° | 25° Ariamsvlei: 23° | 40° Oranjemund: 13° | 21° Luanda: 25° | 26° Gaborone: 22° | 36° Lubumbashi: 17° | 32° Mbabane: 18° | 31° Maseru: 16° | 32° Antananarivo: 17° | 31° Lilongwe: 22° | 33° Maputo: 23° | 31° Windhoek: 23° | 34° Cape Town: 17° | 27° Durban: 20° | 25° Johannesburg: 19° | 31° Dar es Salaam: 26° | 32° Lusaka: 22° | 33° Harare: 21° | 31° #REF! #REF!